Moose and Brainworm

Presented by Dr. Tiffany Wolf, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota.

The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.

The moose, an iconic creature of the north woods and an important member of this ecosystem, is in serious decline. This trend is the result of several factors including a parasite, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, which has been introduced via the expansion of another host species, the white-tailed deer.

Dr. Wolf, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota-College of Veterinary Medicine, is on the front lines. She is working in collaboration with the Grand Portage Band as she explores the impacts of wildlife management practices, pinpointing the parasites temporary hosts, and looking at differences in the DNA of the parasite in hopes of preventing transmission. She will be sharing with us the details regarding her research.